Firewall forward, finish, cowling underway

I was happy with the behind-the-spinner nutplate installation until I realized that I put them on the top cowl when they belong on the bottom. Argh!! What an idiot!

I fixed them today and will flox those eight rivet holes sometime in the next few days.

I was happy with the behind-the-spinner nutplate installation until I realized that I put them on the top cowl when they belong on the bottom. Argh!! What an idiot!

I fixed them today and will flox those eight rivet holes sometime in the next few days.

Cowl inlet ramps with scribe lines highlighted for trimming.

Cowl inlet ramps with initial trim completed. The glass is fairly easy to cut with a combination of left & right tin snips.

Cowl inlet drilling to the upper cowl underway.

Cowl inlet drilling to the upper cowl complete. The four clecos securing each inlet to the cowling are drilled only through the honeycomb and NOT through the fiberglass, itself. Carefully, carefully…

Left cowl inlet with prop governor clearance hole cut out.

First test fitting of the cowl halves with the inlets in place. Everything went on like it should, so I was pleased if more than a little surprised.

Cowl inlets floxed in place.

Cowlings set in place overnight to permit inlet ramp flox to dry in its actual position.

Firewall forward, finish, cowling underway

Initial fitting of bottom cowl. The aft edge will need between ⅛” and 3/16″ taken off at various points. I’ll start with 1/16″ and go from there. Getting the sides trimmed to match the upper cowl will follow.

Initial fitting of bottom cowl. The aft edge will need between ⅛” and 3/16″ taken off at various points. I’ll start with 1/16″ and go from there. Getting the sides trimmed to match the upper cowl will follow.

Firewall forward, finish, cowling in process

Initial upper cowl trim around the spinner and air inlets underway.

Initial lower cowl trim around the spinner and air inlets underway.

Oil filler door cutout complete.

Nose gear leg cutout complete.

Initial top and bottom cowl mating. Still have some work to do sharpening the left side of the spinner cutout before drilling the halves together.

Initial top and bottom cowl mating. Still have some work to do sharpening the left side of the spinner cutout before drilling the halves together.